Cameroon: 7 killed in twin female suicide bombings in Dabanga

Boko Haram, which has become one of the world's deadliest terror groups, is looking to set up a hard-line Islamic state in northeast NigeriaEmmanuel Braun/Reuters

At least seven people have been killed and 12 others injured after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in a town in north Cameroon. The two teenage girls, who are believed to have entered the country as Nigerian refugees, carried out the attacks in Dabanga, targeting a family and a local shop.

"The provisional toll is seven dead, including the two suicide bombers, as well as two soldiers injured," a senior government source told Reuters. A woman and her children were among those killed, a security officer said, while another officer said a gendarme (paramilitary police officer) was also killed. Colonel Jacob Kodji said the injured were being treated at a military clinic in Mora.

The attacks were thought to be in line with those previously carried out by Boko Haram extremists. However, till now no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Dabanga, which lies in Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria. Boko Haram, which has become one of the world's deadliest terror groups, is looking to set up a hard-line Islamic state in northeast Nigeria.

Cameroon, Chad and Niger have seen an increase in Boko Haram terror activities even though the countries are part of a regional task force that is 8,700 strong, which was set up to defeat the terror group.

Meanwhile, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for carrying out a suicide bombing on an annual Arbaeen pilgrimage in Nigeria's Kano city, where hundreds of Shiite Muslims were taking out a procession. At least 22 people were killed in the attack, which took place on 27 November. The next day, Boko Haram published the bomber's photograph identifying him as Abu Suleiman al-Ansari.

Muhammadu Turi, who was in the procession, said a second suicide bomber was caught before he could explode his devices and was being interrogated and providing "vital information". The terror group has said nothing about the second bomber, while Kano state police commissioner Muhammadu Katsina said he had no information either.

Boko Haram, which joined the Islamic State (Isis) in March, till now has killed around 20,000 people.